Man, 38, Dies Three Weeks after Marrying 'Love of His Life' in a Hospice

A man was on his deathbed in a Hospice when he said his vows to the love of his life. Sadly he passed away a few weeks later, but not without leaving a legacy.

Simon Stevens, 38, was a healthy and active man who enjoyed his life alongside his partner, Lynne Male, and their three greyhounds. However, their lives were turned upside down in March this year.

Stevens, who hails from England, was unexpectedly diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare and deadly condition resulting from asbestos exposure. He was a well-loved employee at Jaguar Land Rover, and this month he lost the battle.

THE BITTERSWEET CEREMONY

Before he passed away, he married Male, his partner of 14 years. They said their vows and exchanged rings at Marie Curie Hospice Solihull with close family members standing around the hospital bed.

Male shared: "The wedding was initially planned to take place on October 28, but Simon became suddenly more ill on Tuesday afternoon, and the wedding was turned around in about four hours. It was special having our immediate family there."

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS DEATH

A GoFundMe was set up for Stevens to help with his medical bills. On the page, a sad announcement revealed that he had died. It called him brave and strong and stated that he would be missed. The post read:

"Simon fell asleep peacefully yesterday evening with Lynne and his mum Julie by his side. He was just 38 years old. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on."

ILLNESS CAME AS A SHOCK

The news of Stevens' illness came as a shock. It had a rapid onset and turned a healthy man into a shadow of himself almost overnight.

Stevens' wish was to raise money for a dog rescue center in Coventry Road, Solihull. The couple regularly volunteers their time and assistance at the Daybreaks Trust.

THEY STARTED A FUNDRAISER

The facility is dedicated to helping kennels and securing the safety of the dogs in the area. Ruth Price, the founder of Daybreaks, started a campaign in honor of Stevens. Price shared:

"Simon requested that we set up a fundraiser in his name. The aim being to raise money to go towards helping future proof and secure the kennels in years to come."

WOULD BE HIS TRUE LEGACY

Price expressed that rehoming greyhounds was a significant point for Stevens. She explained that the money from the fundraiser would change the lives of the adopted dogs.

She added that the kennel was a special place to Stevens. It added value and purpose to his life. Price explained that helping and caring for the dogs would be a "true legacy" for the man who loved the organization and the dogs.